Handle-holding for beverage cans and the like



Feb. 23, 1960 H. B. HYAMS 2,926,038

HANDLE-HOLDING FOR BEVERAGE CANS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 5, 1958 IN VE NTOR BY $255276. //Y4M5 mil /Mr 9 HANDLE-HOLDING FOR BEVERAGE CANS ANDTHE LIKE Herbert B. Hyams, St. Paul, Minn.

Application December '5, 1958, Serial No. 778,474

4 Claims. (Cl. 294-33) This invention relates to a holding and handledevice for beverage cans whereby the can or container may be employed asa stein to drink from.

Prior art discloses a number of holder'and handle devices, some of whichemploy bases and tubular holding portions to support the container orcan and some of which utilize elements which interfit with the top andbottom ends or beads of the cans to secure a handle thereto. Most ofsuch devices of the prior art are rather bulky and can not be collapsedin compact form for shipment and handling. The cost of manufacture inmost instances is prohibitive from the standpoint of supplying the samegratis with a case or series of filled beverage cans or the like.

It is an object of my present invention to provide a simple, inexpensiveholder and handle structure which may be very readily assembled toefliciently retain itself to a cylindrical, beaded beer can or otherbeverage container of generally similar structure and which whendisassembled comprises two essential sheet metal parts which may bereadily housed and packaged in container cartons or even in carrierpackages such as six-packs between the respective cans therein.

A further object is the provision of a holding and handle device of theclass described which may be manufactured at such low cost that it maybe supplied to a purchaser without extra charge housed within acardboard carrier pack or a carton case.

A still further object is the provision of a holding and handle devicefor beaded drink cans and the like which may be when assembled,instantly applied to a can to convert it to a stein and which may bevery quickly detached from that can and applied to other cans forsimilar purposes.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fullyappear from the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to thesame or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top perspective view showing an embodiment of my inventionoperatively applied to a conventional metal container or can for beer;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the body and embracing member of mystructure;

Fig. 3 is an upper perspective view of the readily attachable handleelement constituting an important component of my improved structure;and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 44 ofFig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, I provide an encircling body memberindicated as an entirety by the numeral 6 having an upper edge 6a lyingin a horizontal plane for abutment and engagement against the head orchime conventionally formed at the upper end of a metal, sealed beveragecan or container C. The body 6 is symmetrically formed having the loweredge 6b disposed parallel States Patent O with upper edge 6a, the entirebody in cross sectional shape being substantially arcuate but actuallycontoured on a curve slightly sharper than arcuate for, when tensioned,surrounding and closely engaging slightly more than half of thecircumference of a conventional metal container. The medial portions ofthe body member 6 are tapered from the main upstanding portion andextend laterally therefrom forming the embracing arms 60 and 6d of thecurved shape previously described.

In the central and upstanding portion of the body member adjacent upperand lower edges thereof are provided apertured and struck outinterlocking or coupling elements indicated as entirety by the numeral6e adapted to closely interfit and interlock with cooperating couplingelements provided in the curved and outwardly projecting handle elementto be later described.

I provide a resilient integral handle element 7 illustrated indisassembled condition in Fig. 3 and preferably constructed from anintegralstrip of resilient sheet metal having an elongated slightlycurved main portion 7a and having upper and lower inwardly curvedterminal portions 7b and 70 respectively. The extremities of each of theterminal portions of the handle are provided with T-shapedinterlocking'or coupling elements 8 which are adapted to preciselyinterfit and be interlocked-with the struck up and recessed couplingelements 62 of the body member 6. Interlocking and coupling of thehandle element with the body member can only be achieved when the handlemember is flexed or bowed inwardly to contract the length thereof. Atsuch time the coupling T- heads 8 may be slid into the recessedcorrespondingly shaped portions 6 of the body member with other elementsinterlocking as will hereafter be recited. When the tension on thehandle element is relieved, the cooperating interlocking elements arefirmly afixed and cannot become disengaged unless the handle element isagain bowed inwardly to shorten the over-all length thereof.

Specifically describing the cooperating coupling elements apertured andstruck up from the upper and lower portions of body member 6, it will beSeen from Figs. 2 and 4 that the struck up spaced tongues 6e will interlock with the arms of T-head element 8 of the appropriate end of thehandle while the shank portion 8a of the T-head is confined between saidtongues 62. The very efiicient interlocking of the upper and lower endsof the handle element 7 is thus obtained and the device may be assembledvery quickly without the use of any tools.

It will of course be understood'that the specific cooperatinginterlocking and coupling elements provided on the extremities of handleelement 7 and upon the appropriate upper and lower portions of the body6 are merely exemplary and various other specific interlocking elementsmay be employed all within the scope of my invention.

It will further be understood that with the structure of my holder aspreviously described when strong and highly resilient material is usedfor the body 6 the abutment edges 6a and 6b in cooperation with thebeads of the cans are not essential. In other words, the surrounding andembracing clamping action of the resilient arms 6c and 6d are entirelyadequate to secure the holder to the can for user purposes.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided acan-holding and handle device especially adapted for beverage cans ofthe beaded end type which may be constructed simply from two inexpensivemetal stampings capable of quick interconnection to form a resultantstructure. The two essential members 6 and 7 being of thin, elongatedshape, may be compactly housed between adjacent cans in a package orcarton 3 without requirement of additional space or redesign of thepackage medium.

The handle element 7 may be constructed of a thinner and highlyresilient metal of greater length between the coupling, T-heads than asdisclosed whereby the handle may. be bowed throughout its length wheninterconnected with the body 6 and thusmay be straight in packagedcontour Without having inwardly curved attachment ends.

It will be understood that the embracing arms 6c and 6d when tensioned,conform closely to the shape of slightly more than 180 of thecylindrical contour of the can, thereby adequately holding the can whilethe upper supporting edge 6a of the body member underlies the upper beadof the can to eificiently support the same.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details and arrangement of parts without departing from the scopeof my invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A collapsible holding and handle device for beverage cans of the typehaving an upper beaded edge having in combination an encircling bodymember constructed of resilient material and having a concave areacurved to closely embrace and grip at least half of the circumference ofsuch a can when said member is tensioned, said body member having anupper curved edge lying in a plane. for abutting engagement below theupper bead of the can, an independent but connectible handle elementhaving a substantial and intermediate portion thereof spaced from saidbody member when the two parts are coupled and having inwardly curvedterminal portions, said terminal portions and the central portion ofsaid body member being provided with cooperating interlocking elementsfor respective coupling together to positively connect the body memberand handle element into a unitary structure.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the coupling elements ofone of said components comprise T-shaped heads and wherein the couplingelements of the other components comprise upstruck and recessedreceiving portions for engaging said T-shaped heads and also the shankstock portions of the other components adjacent said heads.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 further characterized by thespacing of said coupling elements on the terminal portions of saidhandle element being slightly greater than the spacing of the couplingelements on the body member whereby contractile flexing of said handleelement is required to interconnect the respective coupling elementsthereby when released placing tension on the handle element and itsconnections.

4. A two-piece holding and handle device for beverage cans of the typehaving an upper beaded edge, having in combination a body member havinga central upstanding, portion and having oppositely extending resilientarms contoured to closely embrace and grip at least half of thecircumferenceof such a can when tensioned, said body member having anupper edge for abutting engage ment below the upper bead of the can andan independent but connectible handle element constructed of resilientmaterial and having terminal portions of T- shaped construction forinterconnection with upper and lower portions of said upstanding bodyportion respectively, said body portion having complementary shapedcoupling elements formed therein for reception and interlocking withsaid T-heads.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS902,236 Kintz Oct. 27, 1908 2,215,402 McDonald Sept. 17, 1940 2,484,531Simmons Oct. 11, 1949 2,855,120 Bramming Oct. 7, 1958

